401(k) Catch-Up Calculator (2026)
Instantly see your maximum employee elective deferral for 2026: base, plus standard catch-up at 50+, or the higher super catch-up band for ages 60–63.
Your age
How to Read Catch-Up Results
This tool answers only the employee elective deferral ceiling—not employer match, profit sharing, or after-tax buckets.
- Enter your current age. The SECURE 2.0 super catch-up applies only for ages 60 through 63 in 2026 framing.
- Compare to your plan record. Payroll must flag catch-up contributions correctly so deferrals above the base limit do not get rejected.
How to Read the Results
Combined limit is separate
Total additions including employer money follow Section 415(c)—use the combined limit calculator for that headroom.
What to Do Next
How We Reviewed This Tool
Tool-Level Methodology
- Implemented age-banded ceilings using the site’s published 2026 IRS framing: $24,500 base, $8,000 standard catch-up, and $11,250 super catch-up for ages 60–63.
- Kept the tool intentionally small so it can serve as a fast reference that always points readers to the full limits article for citations.
- Checked that the mega backdoor and combined-limit tools use the same age-to-ceiling mapping for consistency.
Assumption Review
- Age is entered as a whole number; birthdays mid-year are not modeled to the day.
- The tool covers elective deferrals only, not SEP IRAs, SIMPLE plans, or 403(b) universal availability nuances.
- Legislative changes after publication would require a limits refresh pass across the whole cluster.
Update Log
- Launched the catch-up calculator to pair with per-paycheck and combined-limit tools for SECURE 2.0 search intent.
- Cross-linked the contribution limits guide as the authoritative narrative source.
- Documented the ages 60–63 band explicitly to reduce confusion with the standard age-50 catch-up.
2026 at a Glance
IRS Notice 2025-67 set the 2026 employee elective deferral limit at $24,500. Catch-up layers stack on top for eligible ages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 401(k) catch-up contribution for 2026?
If you are age 50 or older (but outside the special SECURE 2.0 age band), the standard catch-up is $8,000 on top of the $24,500 base limit, for a total elective deferral of $32,500 in 2026.
What is the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up for ages 60–63?
For 2026, eligible participants ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 may use a higher catch-up of $11,250, for a total elective deferral of $35,750 when combined with the $24,500 base limit.
Does the super catch-up apply at age 64?
No. The enhanced $11,250 catch-up is tied to ages 60–63 under current IRS framing for 2026. At 64 and older, the standard $8,000 catch-up generally applies again unless rules change.
How we document this page (E-E-A-T)
Experience. This page is written for U.S. workers navigating real payroll and plan rules, not abstract theory. Where we simplify, we say so explicitly so you can escalate to your plan’s summary plan description (SPD) or recordkeeper.
Expertise. 401lcalculator.com is an independent retirement planning tool site founded by David Jones (calculator methodology specialist). Limits and formulas are checked against IRS retirement-plan notices and SECURE 2.0 framing. Numeric caps align with our 2026 limits reference page, which cites Notice 2025-67.
Authoritativeness. For any conflict between this calculator and the IRS or your plan, the IRS and your plan win. Primary sources:
- IRS — Retirement Topics, 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits
- IRS Notice 2025-67 (PDF) — official 2026 dollar announcements.
SECURE 2.0 context. The higher catch-up band for ages 60–63 is statute-driven; always confirm the current year’s IRS numbers on the links below rather than relying on any third-party site alone.
Trustworthiness. This tool is not individualized tax, legal, or wealth-management advice. Plan documents, payroll settings, and your full tax return facts can change outcomes. We publish calculator methodology in the sections above so you can compare our framing with your plan administrator or a licensed professional.
For one-on-one guidance, consult a CFP® professional. All math runs locally in your browser; see our privacy policy.
Corrections. If you believe a limit or IRS reference is out of date after publication, please contact us with a primary source link so we can verify and update.
- Reviewed by David Jones
- Limits Updated for 2026 IRS contribution caps
- Formulas Verified quarterly
Review & Methodology
- Reviewed by David Jones (calculator methodology).
- Updated for 2026 IRS contribution limits (refreshed after each annual IRS notice).
- Core calculator formulas are re-tested quarterly; limit-driven logic is checked when IRS guidance changes.
- Educational projections only — not investment, tax, or wealth-management advice. Calculations run locally in your browser.